S.T.O.P. Orthosis - Wear and Care Information
Your S.T.O.P. (Spinal Trauma Orthotic Positioning) Orthosis is a prefabricated bivalve brace designed to provide you with secure, comfortable spinal support. The information below – along with the specific guidance from your physician & orthotist – will tell you what to expect when using your spinal orthosis.
Before donning orthosis, patient should be sure to wear a tight-fitting, cotton t-shirt or stockinette. Wrinkles under the orthosis can cause irritation and skin breakdown.
Follow physician and orthotist instructions for length of orthosis wear.
Orthosis Donning Instructions
Step 1
Patient should be on back with hips flexed slightly. Palpate waist (area above hips and below ribs) to demonstrate proper position of orthosis location.
Step 2
Raise patient’s arm above their head. Log roll patient toward raised arm onto their side. Be sure hips and upper body move together without twisting.
Step 3
Identify top & bottom of orthosis. Place back section of orthosis behind patient. Waist rolls in orthosis should align with patient’s waist.
Step 4
Roll patient onto back with orthosis under them. Recheck alignment of waist rolls with patient in this position. Move orthosis accordingly.
Step 5
Place front section of orthosis on patient noting top and bottom. Straps and loops should be across from each other.
Step 6
Fasten middle straps first pulling both sides evenly. Tighten top or bottom straps next in same manner. Tighten all straps as needed.
For S.T.O.P. III & IV braces, lace the axilla or shoulder straps through the loops and fasten so that the thoracic extension and/or sternal shield are flush against patient’s chest
Proper Strap Tension
Straps should be tightened so they are comfortably snug. The object is to eliminate excess motion between your body and the orthosis, but NOT to overtighten the straps
Cleaning
The orthosis can be cleaned with soap and warm water. Be sure to thoroughly rinse any soap/detergents off and completely air dry the orthosis before donning.
Comfort Tips
Always wear your spinal brace over a cotton tee shirt that provides coverage in all of the contact areas of the brace. Try to keep the fabric smooth against skin and avoid fabric wrinkles or bunching. Feel free to change your tee shirt halfway through the day to increase your comfort.
Areas of Redness
Some minor surface redness is common and should dissipate quickly. Check for localized redness after each wearing period and before continuing with the break-in schedule. If redness, irritation persists call your orthotist for adjustments.
Break-In Procedure
Some patients may find it beneficial to follow a “break-in” procedure to adjust to wearing a brace. Begin with an initial wearing period of one half-hour. If you find no problems or have no questions, you may safely double each wearing period. For example, ½ hour to 1 hour, 1 hour to 2 hours, 2 hours to 4 hours etc.
Your orthotist will give you instructions on how many hours per day you should be wearing the orthosis for best results
Follow-up care
Follow-up visits with your Physician and Orthotist are vital for your healing – don’t skip any scheduled appointments. Adjustments for fit and function can be made by appointment with your orthotist.
Follow physician and orthotist instructions for acceptable activities while wearing orthosis.
Physician’s orders should supersede all protocol.
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